SGMA asks gov’t to ease hiring ban

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association has expressed disappointment over administrative procedure concerning Public Law 11-76 which capped the number of nonresident workers who may be employed in the apparel manufacturing industry.

Members of the SGMA Board of Directors met with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and CNMI labor and immigration officials Tuesday after an independent audit firm presented a favorable report on the present condition of garment factories and employees’ dormitories.

SGMA executive director Richard A. Pierce said the association does not question the 15,727 cap in the number of nonresidents in the apparel manufacturing sector as called for by the Garment Moratorium Act of 1999.

“What we object to, and are appealing to Mr. Tenorio for relief from, is the crazy requirement that all the workers must be on-island by March 25. And, according to the current statute, if they’re not on-island by the 25th, then our companies permanently lose these valuable worker slots,” Mr. Pierce pointed out.

“We are well aware that this law was written to appease the federal government’s constant cries of ‘too many aliens’…What we think should be more important to the CNMI government is the valuable revenue that will be permanently lost if these worker slots disappear. It’s really like shooting yourself in the foot. Sometimes we wonder who’s got priority here,” he added.

Another matter that was brought to the attention of labor officials was a prior promise that if the garment factories would help the CNMI Government during their ‘amnesty period” by hiring workers that came forward, those workers would become a permanent part of the factories’ individual quota ceiling level which is established by the same CNMI Public Law 11-76.

According to Mr. Pierce, many of the companies took the DOLI officials’ word and hired some of the amnesty workers. Some of the factories have exceeded their P.L.. 11-76 assigned quota but are now being told that they must forfeit the slots by March 25 as well.

“We would like to hear from the Government that when we begin to terminate these people (about 100 workers), that they will guarantee us from wrongful termination suits. And what about the people themselves. What about their jobs? What will happen to them now?” SGMA-member company representatives asked.

Mr. Pierce said the governor stated that “as long as we did not exceed the levels set under P.L. 11-76, he would try to accommodate our requests for relief. He listened intently to our explanation of why the total workforce was not and could not be safely on-island by March 25, 2000, and tried to persuade us to stay within the boundaries established under the law, which we will do.”

SGMA Board officials plan to continue to lobby both the Executive and Legislative branches of government for reasonable relief from Public Law 11-76.